Welcome to my blog. You never really know what to expect to find here. Some days, I might think I'm funny. Other days, I'm a little more serious. Sometimes, I'm just sharing a friend with you. Stick around and see what comes up next.

Aug 30, 2011

At just over 76 years old, and after both a long career as a congressman from Texas and as a medical doctor, Ron Paul is making the news a bit more than the establishment wants him to. Scratch that. Congressman Ron Paul is making a lot more news than the establishment wants him to. What is it about him, that the main-stream media is so afraid to point out his popularity among voters?

I have a few theories. But first, I want to point out a few things out about the guy. In a Yahoo News piece I published on Ron Paul, readers can follow a link to a survey published by Fox News which shows the tremendous popularity of the man after the Republican debates just prior to the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa. Although the results of the survey indicate a clear majority of respondents chose Ron Paul as the winner, Fox News pulled the link to the results from their homepage.

At the subsequent Ames Straw Poll, the nuttier-than thou Michelle Bachmann won, but only by a very tiny margin over the Congressman from Texas, and she had to give out more tickets to the event than he did, to win it. With all of her efforts to get the target of 6,000 votes, she still only managed to win it by 152 votes. (Kudos to the LA Times for telling it like it happened, too. That's more than can be said by “Conservative” Fox News.) Power-mad Barbie paid more per vote than the good doctor.

On August 20th, 2011, The Hampton-NorthHampton Patch reported Ron Paul the winner of the New Hampshire Straw Poll, and barely a peep came out of the main stream media about it. He didn't just win it by some slight margin either. He took a commanding 45% of the votes, in front of all eleven other candidates!

His popularity is growing, and not just in the number of disruptions of public events by irrelevant Paulbots, as claimed by some guy named Eric on The Washington times last February. Why are members of the media working so desperately to ignore the man, if he's as irrelevant as a few of them claim?

Ron Paul threatens the power-base of the current system and the media itself. The popular, national news agencies and our federal government have worked long and hard over the years to establish their little daisy-chain arrangement. The press corps says what our bureaucrats want them to, and in return the bureaucrats let the press say what the bureaucrats want them to. What a sweet arrangement, huh.

With a president like Ron Paul, and his simple plan of a return to Constitutional principles, limited government, and a rejection of the cradle-to-grave provision for the parasite class by the government, he just wouldn't make enough news to justify reading/watching/listening to talking heads. Bad news, crisis and drama sells newspapers, not common sense. With as little of an agenda as possible, we might even have a rather boring presidency.

Ron Paul plans to eliminate the I.R.S. And to end the drug war. My goodness. With as much money as bureaucrats make off of those two institutions, there's now way the media can avoid being pressured into trying to ignore Ron Paul. Every crooked cop, every lawyer and every single political fat-bag in the country who derives their unearned income and undeserved power from the average American's propensity to be scared silly sees the man as a threat. We can only expect every shady interest in the country will do everything they can to blackout Ron Paul and his third run for the presidency of the Unites States in 2012.

And they will succeed too. They'll rig the game. They'll make sure to tell the major media (as sponsors, of course) exactly who we the people should be focusing on, as our best candidate for President. The press will paint a bad image of a good man. We'll see more stories of “Muslim threats,” the drug war, and the obvious need for more and more and more social welfare systems. They'll succeed in keeping the dumb-as-hell average American fooled. That is, unless his supporters make all the noise in his favor that we can. The powers-that-be in America today might own every last “journalist” in the nation. But they don't own us. Ron Paul 2012.

Aug 24, 2011

Okay, so now I see a comment from another blogger telling me I won an award for an "inspiring blog." Well, okie-doke. I never really thought of myself as "inspiring," but if it'll help get another blogger a back-link, what the hell.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

So, I'd like to thank the nice lady who runs A Storybook World for her nice award. I can't help my suspicious nature, so if I'm offensive, I apologize. Usually, the only awards I ever get involve "the Google/Yahoo/Microsoft Lottery," or something to do with yet another dead uncle in Nigeria, y'know?

Aug 22, 2011

We don't really know for sure, if Sarah Palin is going to also throw her hat into the already crowded race for the G.O.P. Presidential nomination, but in a report from ABC.com, former Bush adviser Karl Rove made the prediction she would. We can't really know for sure if she's going to announce her candidacy until she does, but imagine if she did. What kind of a candidate would she make? There's only one way to have any sort of an idea, and that's to look at what kind of an effect she had as McCain's running mate in the 2008 presidential election.

In response to her political gaffes on the McCain campaign trail in 2008, we have:

"If Palin were a man, we'd all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she's a woman - and the first ever on a Republican presidential ticket - we are reluctant to say what is painfully true."

Admittedly, those first two quotes could just be the natural course of politics-as-usual. So, let's hear from someone who worked closely with her:

"She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone. She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else. Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom."

What list of famous quotes would this be, without the musings of funny man Jon Stewart?

"Actually, when I think about it, Alaska's also near the North pole, so she she must also be friends with Santa." (In response to a Fox News commentator's remarks during the 2008 campaign, about how she knows international relations, because Alaska is so close to Russia.)

-Jon Stewart, from the Friday, August 29, 2008 episode of 'The Daily Show'

Thus far, we've seen a few quotes on Sarah Palin which mentioned her personality, and the viability of the woman as a presidential candidate. So, what is the amazing appeal she holds over so many? We might have the answer right here:

"I'm sure I'm not the only male in America who, when Palin dropped her first wink, sat up a little straighter on the couch and said, "Hey, I think she just winked at me." And her smile. By the end, when she clearly knew she was doing well, it was so sparkling it was almost mesmerizing. It sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the living rooms of America. This is a quality that can't be learned; it's either something you have or you don't, and man, she's got it."

Could it be, so many relish the idea of a presidential candidate, on nothing more than charm and good looks alone? She certainly has those qualities, and she has them in boat-loads, too. But to not only be a viable candidate, the one who knocks an incumbent out of power, it's going to take a lot more than good looks and a charming personality.

And once won, it would take a lot more, in order to handle the job-at-hand of running the federal government of the world's greatest superpower. Perhaps the G.O.P. Might want to focus more on the candidates currently running, already.
Some more thoughts for Sarah Palin.

Aug 19, 2011

Fall is coming again. Some parts of the Northern Hemisphere are already feeling the little nibbles of chill in the early morning hours. And while this time of the year is one of the most beautiful and tranquil times of the year for many of us, it's also your last chance to get ready for the coming Winter.

I asked a few good writer friends to share with us some of their favorite resources. So, here they are. I hope you find a few of them useful. (Give these writers a good look-see. They have other works you might enjoy too. Well worth the time!)

How to Prepare Your Rose Bushes for Winter by Andrea Coventry

Roses are temperamental flowers, requiring a great deal of maintenance and care. Preparing them properly in the fall for the long, cold winter, will keep them vibrant throughout the spring and summer. Start preparing for the winter from the moment you purchase your new rose bushes. Read labels carefully to make sure that they are hardy enough to thrive in your zone. I have found rose bushes being sold in Rochester, NY that are only hardy to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters in Upstate New York get much colder than that. If you are not sure of your zone, check the labels. They usually have color-coded maps that indicate what your zone is. If still in doubt, check with the nursery.

It aint just the flowers you need to get ready in the Fall. You'll find, if you just bother to look around, there's a whole mess of projects waiting for you to get 'er done. So, here's a helpful list for the not-so-organized.

20 Gardening Tasks for October by Andrea Coventry

October is a great time in the fall to start getting your garden ready for the winter. There is always plenty to do.

1. Clean out the annuals.
Annual flowers are not going to make it through the winter, anyway. Start cleaning up the beds by removing the annuals. If you have a compost pile, add them to it. Otherwise dispose of them appropriately.
2. Cut back perennials.
Perennial flowers that have not yet been cut back should be cut back at this time. You can also cut back the decorative grasses.
3. Trim diseased or sickly areas on bushes, trees, and shrubs.
Only do simple trimming back of obviously dead or diseased areas on trees, bushes, and shrubs. Major reshaping is better left for the spring.
4. Dig up tuberous plants.
If you want to keep plants such as your tuberous begonias, dahlias, and cannas for the following year, now is the time to dig them up. Wait until the green areas have fallen back. Store them in peat moss in a cool area such as the basement. Replant them in the fall.
5. Plant bulbs.
You have been planning your spring display all spring and summer long. Now is the time to plant all of those bulbs. Use a bulb planter to make sure you...go here for the rest.

Whoo-WEE! All that work's got you tired, huh! Okay, maybe you've earned a break. You'll want to know what's coming up on the boob-tube:

ABC Releases New 2011/2012 Lineup of Shows by Karen Gros

ABC network released their new 2011/2012 television schedule the morning of Wednesday, May 18, 2011. The new lineup includes a mixture of very successful shows like Grey's Anatomy , Modern Family, Desperate Housewives and Private Practice along with a slew of new shows debuting in the lineup.

New shows include Good Christian Belles, Last Man Standing, Apartment 23, 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show, Man Up, Work It, Suburgatory, Expedition Impossible, Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, Pan Am, Once Upon a Time, Missing, Charlie's Angels, Revenge, The River, Scandal, and ...go here for the rest.

Okay. Break's over! Now, getting back to work means you're going to need equipment right? So, here's a great resource, about exactly that! While you might think this would be a Spring-time article topic, it might surprise you to discover how much you can save by making these purchases in the Fall.

Lawn and Garden Tractors: A Buyer's Guide by Cherise Kelley

Here is an overview of 12 different riding lawn mowers and lawn and garden tractors. Advantages and disadvantages of each model are noted, including price. There are two major categories of lawn and garden tractors. Riding lawn mowers are good for mowing lawns, hauling (with optional wagon), and for raking leaves, which is known as lawn sweeping. As well as mow lawns, haul, and sweep, lawn and garden tractors with ground-engaging transmissions can also tow accessories that dig into the earth. Such accessories are aerators, cultivators, harrows, dethatchers, scrapers, and graders. These earth-digging capabilities are known as cultivating activities. OK, on to the lawn and garden tractors!
Husqvarna 27-HP Hydrostatic Ground Engaging 54" Cut Lawn and Garden Tractor - Model # 2754GLS - Available for...go here for the rest.

Well, there's more to most yards than just the lawn-care and garden prep. What about your patio?

How to Prepare Your Patio Garden for Winter by Sandra Petersen

You have taken the time to personalize your patio garden and to create a lush and shaded retreat during the hot summer months. Have you given thought to what you must do to make your patio garden ready for winter? The time for preparing your patio garden for the often harsh winter months is in the fall. This is especially true if your winter climate is one that includes snow and cold temperatures.
Bringing Patio Garden Plants Indoors
If you are planning on bringing patio garden plants inside for the winter, you should...go here for the rest.

With all that hard work comes not only the satisfaction of a job well done, there are also those terribly painful blisters.

Blister Care and Prevention by Sandra Petersen

Have you ever experienced this? Your feet feel hot and sweaty inside that new pair of hiking boots, but you have quite a distance to go before you can rest. You ignore your discomfort until you begin to limp. By then it's too late. You have developed a blister.
Or maybe the first day of spring yard work finds you using a push mower to cut the grass or loppers to trim away some overgrown branches. Your work didn't take very long, but now in the places you gripped the tool your flesh is raised and squishy to the touch. This, too, is a blister.
Blisters, also known as bulla, are the skin's way of protecting its deeper layers from bacteria. A blister is a layer of skin that rides atop a watery cushion of body fluids. If left alone, it would heal itself because the fluids would...go here for the rest.

This next friend of mine writes on all sorts of helpful topics. But, she's a little shy. So I chased down one of her topics. Who doesn't love to hike in the Fall?

12 Tips for Fall Hikers by Linda Ann Nickerson

Fall is a fine time for hiking. Trees explode with autumn color, while shedding their leaves to provide more expansive panoramas for wilderness lovers. Summer heat and humidity give way to cooler temperatures that only add to hikers' energy levels. Still, autumn hiking carries a few cautions and concerns of its own.
Here are 12 tips for fall hikers, to ensure safer and more enjoyable walks in the autumn wilderness.
Look to layers for autumn hikes.
Outdoor temperatures and weather conditions can change quickly, so smart hikers...go here for the rest.

While we're on the topic of Fall, don't forget all that good food. Here's a great recipe for Autumn get-togethers, and it's not just another chicken recipe:

Autumn Corn Bread by Linda Ann Nickerson

Made with ground maize (Indian corn) or sweet corn, this delicious traditional Autumn Corn Bread is a sure-fire favorite fall side dish.
Surely a staple of the first Thanksgiving feast, shared by the Plymouth Pilgrims and their Native American neighbors, Autumn Corn Bread is a popular Thanksgiving Dinner selection.
The American Minutemen of the Revolutionary War ...go here for the rest.

Y'know what? Fall is also the home of a couple of the best holidays, so why not share a turkey recipe (a really great turkey recipe) with you here, too? Even if you don't make it now, it's a recipe worth bookmarking for later.

Holiday turkey wrapped in bacon by Rachel de Carlos

Not everyone likes turkey, but this is one bird that everyone picks at, right down to the bones. Why? It's juicy. It has crunchy skin. And it has a bacon flavor from being roasted with a shroud of beautifully woven bacon strips. It looks good, it smells good, it tastes heavenly.
Choose whatever size turkey will feed your guests and allow for a day or two of leftovers. A fresh turkey will end up crispier and tastier, but frozen will work fine as long as you thoroughly defrost it in the fridge. This will probably take several days, so...go here for the rest.

Okay, enough with the food, right? Right! Now, on to the ever-important topic of auto maintenance for the Fall:

Auto Repair Advice: Tips for the Fall by Spencer E. Razo

This is going to be an interesting article for everyone to learn something about auto repair advice and tips for the up and coming Fall. With over 25 years of experience I have seen my share of vehicles coming into the shop on tow trucks during the Fall seasons. Most of these could have been prevented if the customers took the time to get their vehicles up to date on their maintenance schedules. The best auto repair advice I can give to you is have your car inspected every Fall and Spring. Plan on spending a few hundred dollars doing this. Anything over five hundred dollars I would get a second opinion.
The Fall weather will bring us a lot of moisture and rain. Worn out secondary ignition components will...go here for the rest.

Like I said, you should really get to know these authors. They're entertaining and informative. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Feel free to share these with friends, too. Just send 'em this page, or give us a Stumble. Thank you for stopping by.

Aug 18, 2011

When I first heard of this incredibly good news, I wanted to write from the same perspective of what I'd learned myself. But, that's just not cricket, right? So I put it up as coverage of what I knew was going to get most people's attention - the flu.

This is huge news! Look at all the diseases in the world caused by viruses. While I approached this topic from the angle of what it will do for the flu, there are so many more virally-based diseases. Imagine if we finally have a cure for the common cold...AIDS...that's going to be a great day, won't it? I hope you enjoy the piece.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Cure for the Flu May Be Just Around the Corner on Yahoo News

COMMENTARY | Imagine a drug which kills most viruses. Not just a vaccination which needs to be tweaked each year by scientists hoping to stay one step ahead of each new strain. We're talking about a drug which simply kills most viruses, across the board. Imagine that.

The good news is, so have the scientists of MIT's Lincoln Laboratory. Published on PLoS One, the team consisting of Todd H. Rider, Christina E. Zook, Tara L. Boettcher, Scott T. Wick, Jennifer S. Pancoast and Benjamin D. Zusmanare are reporting a possible new drug that disallows viruses from replicating by causing an infected cell to commit cellular suicide (apoptosis) without harming uninfected cells.

Virus infections prove to be incredibly tricky to fight for a variety of reasons: First, there are lots of them, so what works on one disease might not work on another. Second, they...go here for the rest.

Aug 11, 2011

Facebook, look out! It seems your niche is being threatened by your biggest rival to date! Now, not only can middle-aged housewives everywhere waste the day away playing games on Facebook, but Google+ is offering games too!

According to the release on The Wall Street Journal online, the newest kid on the block is aiming to tear your playhouse down. Zynga is not being loyal here. It seems they're offering their version of Texas Hold 'em Poker to players over there, too! But they're not alone. Disney's Playdom, and EA Games is in on it, also. GAWD! Is NOBODY loyal anymore?

Just when Facebook thought they had the technologically inept market all wrapped up, Google+ is also in the market for advertising data of the gullible. Will the madness never end?

This is good for bored consumers, though. Now, after a day of throwing away all of the player credits one can get on Facebook, now, they can just go get more on the competitor's site. See? Everybody (but Facebook) wins! Yay!

Just to show the folks at Facebook that the Big G doesn't like other dogs pissing in their yard, Google is offering to let those gaming companies get a better price on all of that nommy data at a better rate. Who knew competition was so fierce in the world of free games?

I admit it. I find the song “Friday” by Rebecca black just awful. But I also find a lot of karaoke performances awful, too. Does that mean I have any sort of a right to attack a bar patron because they stink? No. Obviously not.

So, why are people being so vicious to a kid over one song? Can people really be that shallow? I really hope the flak this kid's catching isn't from grown-ups. Geez!

Another thing folks need to consider is the song content was written and produced by Ark Music. She didn't write it. Some moron who thought he had the pulse of modern American society did. Poor little Rebecca Black just did the best she could with what she was handed.

By the way, anybody besides me think the cameo appearance by the 30-year-old Usher-wanna-be, is...a little creepy? What's a guy that old doing rapping about cruising for 13-year-old girls? Somebody should be watching that guy.

Anyway, back to the subject. Rebecca Black has been decried on YouTube, and harassed by fools to such an extent, her parents have decided to begin homeschooling. Come on, people. You're all getting a little ridiculous. Donchathink?

Besides, her other performances show a lot more talent than she's been credited with, and I think the kid's got a promising future in store for her. I wish her much luck, and think her most vicious critics are, well, weird.

Just because the entire civilized world agrees that what Anders Breivik did in Norway was horrible does not, by any means, let Islam off the hook. Muslim leaders are still a bunch of assholes for what they do to their own people.

When violence is committed in the name of Allah-the-imaginary-sky-pimp, it's still nothing more than pointless, murderous violence. Just because some fool in a turban and a dirty beard tells you the voices in his head say it's a good thing, doesn't mean it is.

Just because some old pervert in the desert hundreds of years ago wrote down that it's good thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifo be terrible to others, doesn't make it so. Just because your religious leaders tell you that a book was written by Allah, does not, in any way, shape, form, or fashion mean they are telling you the truth.

I have often criticized Christianity, but only because I was raised a Christian. I was raised a Christian because I was born in a part of the world where Christianity has been the dominant religion. Were I to have been born in the Middle East, it's very likely I would have been raised under Islam, just like the majority of Muslims everywhere. I can only hope that I would be as critical of the bullshit and myths of Islam, as I have been towards Christianity.

Muslims need to understand something. Back when Christianity was as young of a religion as yours is now, they too used the “convert-or-die” marketing approach. In those efforts, a good amount of very terrible things were done on the church's behalf to others. Although those atrocities were committed in the name of the church, they were still very wrong. Those of you Muslims being led to believe violence in the name of Allah to be proper have also been led astray. Your leaders have lied to you, too.

If your God (or your God's spokesperson anyway) is telling you to advance your cause by violence, it is not because your imaginary sky fairy (or his spokesperson anyway) is “mighty.” It is because your God (or his spokesperson anyway) is insane. You do not have to obey, just because they tell you to. Resist the insanity.

Ask yourself this, my Muslim friend: The next time you're in your mosque, and some man is standing in front of you saying he is speaking on your God's behalf; is it really that deity speaking through that man? Or, is it a man telling you he is?

Suppose I were to tell you the spirit of Elvis Presley were speaking through me? Even if I did a real good impersonation of his voice, and had his moves down pat, and even knew facts about his life, does that mean it's really Elvis Presley speaking through me? No. It just means that is what I'm telling you, and nothing more.

So, your prophet Mohammed told you he was inspired by some angel to write down what he did. So what? His claims can neither be proven or disproven, so that worked out for him as a pretty handy way to get a bunch of gullible, primitive desert nomads to hand over their fortunes, their daughters, and very often their lives, to a cult. And now that I have planted the seed of doubt in your heads, it is time for you to begin to question the validity of your religious beliefs as well. Just because what Breivik did was a terrible act, doesn't mean you folks have been any better.

Updated: Although this video was written to Christians, I feel it also applies to Islam. you should understand why your "Submit or be destroyed" bullshit is so readily rejected.

Aug 10, 2011

I'm a little bit bugged by something as of late, and I must speak out. I'm not the only one this bothers, either. This might anger a lot of my friends and family, too, but it must be said just the same. If Anders Behring Breivik wasn't a Christian, then Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan wasn't a Muslim.

In his own 1,518-page manifesto Breivik identifies himself as on a mission to defend Norway against the invading Muslims. Also, in that same document, he clearly states his faith in Jesus.

Believe it or not, when I was a kid, I went to church most Sundays, as did nearly every single other kid, in my small Texas town. I can't tell you the number of times I heard the preacher say all a person had to do to be saved was to confess Jesus as their savior – which is what Breivik did. He truly believed he was on a holy mission. The man identified himself as a Christian, plain and simple.

Along comes Bill O'Reilly, playing the no true Scotsman argument, and I find it bothers me. He's ready, willing and able to accept Hasan's self-identification as a Muslim, in spite of millions of Muslims decrying his actions as opposing what they believe to be a “religion of peace,” yet when it comes to Breivik acting on his own disturbed psychotic impulses, suddenly “he's no real Christian."

Personally, I think the problem goes so much deeper than what most people see on the surface of things. These kinds of mentally unstable individuals are unstable no matter what. Regardless of what God someone might happen to follow, a crazy man will start to hear that God telling him to go kill in his name. Anders Breivik suffered from the same sort of mental instability as did those who committed the atrocities on 9/11, as the Oklahoma City bombing and every other atrocity in the name of the religion they happened to grow up believing. I hope humanity grows up enough to abandon these myths altogether, before it's too late, and we end up wiping ourselves out.

This topic is not written for the purpose of changing anyone's religious beliefs. If you disagree, and believe differently than the author, fine. But the points made here are based solely upon evidence as found in various biblical references, and other historical books.

The goal here is to help those who have finally come to realize that Christianity (religion in general, actually) is not likely true. If you feel differently, that is certainly your prerogative. Just don't expect me to repeat myself in a debate. I'm not interested in further discussion.

But if, by some strange chance, any reader does have solid evidence in argument to this topic, feel free to share it below. If there really is evidence (not emotions, squishy feelings, or mere "belief") then feel free to share. I, and many others, would be highly interested.

Do not copy this work. Link back to here, please. It's quicker, easier, and legal that way. Up to 1/3 rd of the piece is allowed for a preview in your link. Thanks.

1. Nobody agrees on when he was born.

If Jesus ever lived, he must have been born, by a miraculous fertilization, or not. Birth is a necessity. If he was born, there must be a specific time when he was born. Records not being what they were at the time, it might be understandable if the time were off by, say, as much as even a couple years. That would be reasonable, indeed.

Instead, we have Matthew saying Jesus was born when Herod was King of Judea. Luke states that Jesus was born when Cyrenius (Quirinius in Roman history) was Governor of Syria. Between the reign of Herod, and the reign of Cyrenius, we have the entire reign of Archelaus, son of Herod. This span covers a difference of ten years, alone.

But, let's say readers accept ten years difference in record keeping as acceptable. Fine. The Encyclopedia Brittanica states "Christians count one hundred and thirty-three contrary opinions of different authorities concerning the year the Messiah appeared on earth." Wow! And here ten years seemed contradictory! 133, separate, debatable years, each credited by someone, somewhere, as to when Jesus Christ Himself came into the world! Might you think such a dispute as to when he was born is perplexing?

2. Nobody agrees on where he was born, either.

Was Jesus of Nazareth, of Nazareth? Or, was he of Bethlehem? The bible tells of the parents of Jesus traveling to report for a census called for by Augustus Caesar (which is not verified in historical records itself, by the way) with his near-due wife, when the Roman custom for such a thing was that the head of the family alone reports, at his place of residence. The Book of Luke claims that Joseph left his home in Nazareth unnecessarily, and crossed two entire provinces to make it to Bethlehem unnecessarily, and took his pregnant wife on the verge of giving birth, again, unnecessarily.

In order to be considered a descendant of King David, Jesus would have needed to have been born in Bethlehem. The historian and biblical scholar Renan stated quite plainly that, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was constructed "in a roundabout way." In addition, many biblical scholars also believe that during the age within which Jesus would have lived, the City of Nazareth did not even exist! But, we can discuss that later.

3. The "Gospels" Were Not Written In His Language, Nor By Anyone Who Would Have Known Jesus.

Jesus the Christ is said to have been born a Jew, as were his followers. The region of the world where he is said to have lived, worked, and occupied, was primarily Nazareth. During the historical time frame when he was said to have lived, the languages spoken by the people in that region, and the culture within which he lived spoke mostly paleo-Hebrew, Aramaic, along with some Phonoecian, and Chaldean.

Yet, no part of the Gospels were written in any of those languages. They were written in Greek, approximately 150 years after he would have lived. Furthermore, there is no evidence any of the Gospels were ever translated into Greek, from any other language. Not only were the Gospels not written in the tongue one might expect from such a figure as Jesus the Christ, they were not written by any of the known apostles. In fact, noone knows exactly who it was that authored even one single line within the four Gospels. Now, some may say that Paul is known to have written his epistles. Remember, I said noone knows who wrote the four Gospels. But, since you bring up Paul...

4. Paul knew nothing of the miracles of Jesus, and never met him.

Some even doubt whether Paul ever even existed, himself. But for the sake of this topic, let's say he did. Paul would have lived during the time when Jesus would have lived. He likely walked the same streets which Jesus would have probably walked. He would have been a member of the very church Jesus is said to have decried for being "scribes, pharisees, and hypocrites." It's a safe bet that Paul would have heard much about a man rebelling against the church, and traveling about the country performing actual miracles, and being followed by "the multitudes."

Yet, look into your bible and see for yourself, if Paul claims to have ever met Jesus as anything other than a phantasm. Add to this the documented fact that Paul also does not speak of the virgin birth, any of the miracles of Jesus, nor even any details of his crucifixion. Everything Paul speaks about Jesus is in an after-the-fact manner, and resembles not one line, not one detail of any part of the four Gospels. Perhaps, just perhaps, it's possible the miracles of Christ were just not invented yet, when the epistles of Paul were written. It's not just Paul.

5. There is no evidence of Jesus, outside of the Bible.

For those not satisfied that the bible is full of contradictions, myths, improbabilities, and fiction, let us also look to history, or the lack thereof, about Jesus.

The age in which Jesus is said to have lived was one of scholars, thinkers, and men who wrote accounts of everyday, common folk. In "The Christ" written by John E Remsburg, there are no less than forty-two inquisitive, inquiring, intelligent writers who documented facts, figures, names, and activities of everyone from commoners to royalty. Some of the greatest writers in history came about during this time in history.

Many consider Philo the greatest Jewish writer in history. Not only was Philo prolific, and active, he was born before the beginning of the Christian era, and lived for many years after the supposed crucifixion of Jesus. As well, his home was in Jerusalem.

If Jesus ever existed at all, performed the miracles he is said to have performed, been followed and adored by thousands, and even challenged local authorities to such a point the Roman authorities were willing to circumvent legal customs and kill him as an innocent, surely, Philo would have recorded at least one fact of this man. Yet, there is nothing of Jesus, in anything Philo ever wrote. Not one thing.

Josephus was said to have written "The Antiquities of the Jews," wherein Josephus is recorded as saying "Now, there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works; a teacher of such men as received the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day."

Oddly enough, this passage does not appear in any copy of "Antiquities of the Jews" for the first 200 years of the book's existence. None of the early Christian Fathers knew of the passage. Had this passage existed in the earliest versions of the book, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, or Clement of Alexandria would have referenced it once, in at least one of their many documented controversies against their Jewish opponents. None ever did.

This particular passage is not known of until Eusebius, the first historian of Christianity, early in the fourth century, is believed to have added them, and sloppily at that. In his "Evangelical Demonstration," are these words: "Certainly the attestations I have already produced concerning our Savior may be sufficient. However, it may not be amiss, if, over and above, we make use of Josephus the Jew for a further witness."

Josephus wrote highly detailed accounts of people of minor importance, yet he is strangely brief about the most amazing man who was ever supposed to have lived. In the Encyclopedia Brittanica, Dean Farrar "That Josephus wrote the whole passage as it now stands no sane critic can believe." Bishop Warburton denounced it as "a rank forgery and a very stupid one, too." Who do you believe about Jesus? Your local preacher, who stands to gain when you pay your tithes, or historical scholars, many times willing to die before betraying the truth of history?

Just because it's highly probable that Jesus never really existed, there is no need to abandon most of the principles advanced as his teachings. Just because Jesus will one day be understood to belong to the same category as all other mythical characters, there's still billions of good reasons, for us all to be good to one another, for goodness' sake.

Pardon me while I grind this axe about fast food. If you wish to take what I say with a grain of salt, I understand. But for those who come here knowing that you really truly are what you eat, these five reasons to just quit eating fast food garbage altogether, may be helpful. If you know anyone who is struggling with kicking the junk food habit, feel free to send this page to them. The link is in the address bar, at the top of your browser, or you can share it on Facebook.

1. The mark-up is incredible.

Every business has a right, and a responsibility, to make a profit. In fact, a profit is the reason the business exists in the first place. But if money's tight it might be most cost-effective to eat food from your own kitchen. About the only time when the mark-up is justified is when it's a matter of time savings, because while money can be replaced, time can not. Even in such a case, might I recommend the salad?

2. It's not the best choice, nutritionally.

In spite of what you're told in the various advertising campaigns, fast-food companies use a lot of fat, sugar, salt, and monosodium glutamate to keep your taste-buds happy. Ever notice how a fast-food restaurant seems to hide their nutrition information? Ask a manager if they use msg in their food, and see for yourself what sort of response you get. Go ahead. Try it.

If you don't believe me, then the next time you visit a fast-food restaurant, go in. Don't use the drive-through. While you're inside, look at the regulars. How many of them are overweight? Look at management. Most of them eat there daily. You're not there to judge them as people, but to ascertain the quality of your own food supply.

3. There's a good chance you'll get a food-borne illness.

Ever go into a fast-food restaurant's restroom? Many of them might try to keep them clean, but most don't. Now, just think for a second. If their publicly-available restrooms are that filthy, what's the non-public kitchen like? One particular well-known fast-food chain actually has to make their employees use a timer when they wash their hands, since the crew often doesn't understand the whys and hows of hand-washing.

Besides, how many times have you been in a restaurant where you hear a toilet flush in the restroom, and a second later out comes an employee? Anyone can tell they didn't take the few seconds needed to wash their hands. Maybe they wash them in the kitchen, and maybe they don't. Will you trust your health, and that of your family, to a possible dummy?

As one final illustration to this point: The last time I tried working in a fast-food restaurant, one of our kitchen supervisors handled raw meat, and then made a sandwich for a customer, without washing her hands in between. I mentioned her actions "might be a food safety concern." (Sarcasm, mine) Her response? She laughed. When I asked other managers about the importance of not finding an e.coli 0157-h7 infection funny, I was ignored. Think about this the next time you're dealing with "stomach flu."

4. The employees and management resent you.

It's hot, difficult, underpaid work, with customers often as verbally abusive as the worst of managers. While many employees do give their best to the general public, oftentimes, the folks you're buying that meal from resent you. It's one of the primary cowboy rules: Never stay where you're not welcome.

5. Lay off the fast food, just because you can

Ultimately, what you put into your mouth, is your responsibility. If high carbohydrate, sugar-laden, possibly contaminated food, served by people who probably resent you, is what you really want to eat, then by all means go right ahead.

But, on the off-chance you're one of those readers who choose to handle your money wisely, and take care of your body, you've no need to listen to any marketing message or illusory "craving." The human brain only works on the pain/pleasure principle and you can choose to convince yourself you "need (insert company name here)," or you can be honest with yourself, and eat better food.

Dark, or full-spectrum solar panels are specially-built solar cells (gallium arsenide nitride as opposed to the conventional semiconductor, gallium arsenide) which allow for affordable manufacture and production of photovoltaic cells which can produce electricity from the full-spectrum of solar radiation, and not just visible light. This enables humanity for the first time ever, to be able to produce solar electricity whether the sun is up or not. How could something like this change the world? Well, here are a few ideas:

Unlimited, Perpetual, Global Power For All

How much juice can we use? ALL of it! With the ability to produce electricity around-the-clock, and with zero impact on the environment, there are really no limits as to where humanity could go technologically. Or imagine if sufficient juice could be stock-piled, to make a worm-hole, somewhat bigger than a human hair? Full-spectrum solar cells could be the vital catalyst to allow mankind to finally reach the stars.

Technology and Research

How many solutions to the world's problems could be produced, were a sufficient number of Walter-type computers to be asked sufficient questions, by the right people? Imagine what kind of multiple terra-byte laptop people will have when all electricity becomes free(or at least much cheaper), unlimited, and perpetual. Combine full-spectrum solar cells with the recent development of graphene and we could all one day have computers the size of wrist-watches.

No More Electrical Bills

Individual households could be able to perpetually and constantly produce their own electricity to operate, and at maximum capacity. Folks will be inventing all new ways to give their self-produced electricity away. Electricity could end up absolutely free and unlimited for anyone and all.

Flying cars or the equivalent thereof

Massive, unlimited, perpetually produced electricity can also be placed onto personal aerial transportation devices which no longer will need to carry batteries. Personal hovercraft could become the preferred method of individual commute in the future.

Aug 9, 2011

It's getting to be that time again, when parents everywhere are looking for the information they should've remembered from last year, but didn't. Being one of my readers offers you an advantage, though. I know people! Some of my best friends just happen to make a part of their living by helping folks find the information they need! How cool is that! So, I'm bringing you ten articles on the topic, and I hope you'll find what you need. (If you don't, please feel free to contact me in the comments, and tell me what you're looking for. No strings. I'll do things to help a reader.)

With each title, you'll see a blurb preview, to help you decide if it's what you're looking for. Happy shopping:

Attention deficit disorders (ADD and ADHD) are generally diagnosed using a checklist of symptoms. One of those symptoms is often losing materials necessary for a task - like school supplies or textbooks. While some people may think that hyperactivity is the most obvious sign that a child has ADHD, for our daughter the first sign that all was not well at school was definitely that she constantly lost or forgot things. Read the rest here.

Back to school is right around the corner and it's time to start thinking about school supplies such as pens, pencils, markers and crayons. This year, look for eco-friendly items for your kids instead of the traditional supplies. Many benefits are associated with buying earth-friendly items but the main one is that you're supporting green living. Read the rest here.

First of all, congratulations for considering homeschooling! Now comes the difficult part: finding curricula and supplies that work for you and your child/children.

One of the best ways to find out about the array of materials available to you is by attending a homeschool curriculum fair. MACHE (Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators) puts on an annual 3 to 4 day curriculum fair which attracts many national homeschool publishers. Homeschoolers with used curricula at greatly reduced prices are invited to rent a table and sell their no-longer-needed items. Major distributors also have discounts on their products at the fair. But I also found that the fair made my head swim with all the possibilities. How to narrow down your selection? Read the rest here.

Many families are choosing to live a less plastic life. As more information comes to light on the environmental impact of plastic with its inability to biodegrade and the health risks of leaching chemicals and hormone disruptors into our foods, many are just saying "no" to buying more plastic. Read the rest here.

If your child tells you just before the start of school that he doesn't want to go to school, there's a good chance he's experiencing back to school anxiety. Before you respond with anger or disappointment, you should take some time to find out what's really troubling your student. Read the rest here.

Back to school season can be an anxious time for any parent, but especially for those of us whose children have special needs due to learning disabilities, ADHD, autism or other conditions. There is a joy at seeing our kids go off on their own to have new adventures and learn new things, but our experiences have taught us there will be challenging moments. For many of us, we would like nothing more than to take that journey with our children so we can be there to lend a hand when they or their teachers need it. Read the rest here especially if you're a teacher..

Back to school time is chock full of hidden costs and added stress. From purchasing school supplies, preparing your children for a new year of learning, and getting adjusted to a new teacher, back to school time can certainly be stressful for both parents and kids alike. Add on the fact that many children outgrow their school clothes over summer holidays and you are faced with having to purchase new school clothes as well. Buying your children clothes for back to school doesn't have to be stressful. In fact, I spent less than $50 on my son's school uniforms, including shoes to match.

It's that time again, back to school season. This means it is time to get back to school backpacks, back to school supplies, and get out and started with back to school shopping. While this may seem like an overwhelming task, with a little organization you shall be able to get everything your child will need for school this year. Read the rest here.

Back-to-school clothes may be the fun part, but here are three things you can do ahead of time that will save lots of agonizing at school later. These apply whether you are starting first grade or finishing college this year. Just by being prepared, you will be ahead. Get the jump on school!

Remember when I said there'd be 10 articles? I sorta fibbed, but not intentionally. I found one more really handy resource for you home-schoolers out there. You'll find it helpful, so I'm sharing one more:

When making the decision to homeschool your children, there will be a variety of things you'll need to be aware of. Some of those things include laws, where to find resources and materials, how to plan a schedule and curriculum, and even record-keeping and grading. Elementary record-keeping is often simpler than during high school (and possibly also in grades 6 - 8). This is due to the necessity of transcripts and course credits in higher grade levels. As a veteran homeschool mom, I've tried many record keeping methods.

Aug 8, 2011

So, Facebook fans, do you ever see those little quizzes and status update games where you're asked to answer "fun" questionnaires giving out details of your past? They're usually shared as notes and come from other friends who've done them too. They're often given the subject of "Getting to know you," or other equally creepy titles. The questions are about your elementary school, what street you lived on as a child, and other detailed personal information. They seem innocuous at first.

I'm just not comfortable with them - never have been. When I see these types of questionnaires, I always tell my friends they're not good to do. It's just never made sense to me why anyone would want to freely give out such details as what might get asked during a credit application, or for other security purposes. My well-meaning, fun-loving friends have often told me I'm just "paranoid" for not joining in. I've been told the information asked for isn't useful and won't cause any harm.

Well, call me paranoid all you like. Because now, I only hope I'm paranoid enough. In an AP report, carried on The Washington Times, we find the story of 24-year-old George Bronk of California. He's just been sentenced to four years for his acts of stalking Facebook "friends," and using clues garnered, to take over their...go here for the rest.

Aug 7, 2011

The enchilada is forever. Someone, somewhere has a personal variation, or the authentic Mexican version on a regular basis, at least once. I can't say if I've ever personally met anyone who doesn't like either the original enchilada recipe, or some Americanised, Tex/Mex variation.

I've not had this particular variation, or flavor, anywhere else before. So, I'm taking the initiative, and naming this particular variation on the classic enchilada, before someone else does. My recipe might just be good enough, to someday get my oldest son, to eat something I fix. Who knows? But it's still pretty good, whether he's stubborn, or not. Enjoy, and feel free to share!

Place your well-stabbed/punctured chicken leg quarters in the crock-pot, and covered with all of the beer. No need to go more than a half inch or so, but cover the chicken in beer. Begin on high. As the beer/broth begins to bubble, add the 1 t. of peanut butter. Stir in as it becomes oil in the heat. Add the hot sauce, and seasonings at any time. Now would be good, even. Make sure the chicken mingles with all the ingredients while it cooks slowly.

Unless you're using boneless chicken, bone the fowl, as soon as you're able. While replacing the meat, add the greens and juice to the mix. Continue cooking the boned chicken mix for a good hour, until done. During the last few minutes of cooking in the crock-pot, add the cheese dip/processed cheese, and finally the dissolved corn starch. Stir in completely. You've been stirring in the love all along, right?

Part two-

In the sprayed/oiled baking dish, lay the first tortilla, and cover with a thinnish layer of chicken mix from crock-pot, and a nice pinch of the shredded cheese. Place another tortilla, chicken mix, cheese, and finally-do the same with each tortilla, until either the dish is mostly full, or there are no more tortillas.Add more love liberally, between each layer.

Cover the very top with the last tortilla, the last bit of cheese, and any final bits of chicken mix. Cover and bake at 375 degrees F. for one hour. (Tip: If the baking dish is squared, breaking the tortillas into quarters lets cooks fill corners.) Refrigerate leftovers, if you're able to not eat it all, and remember to feed someone.

Aug 6, 2011

I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I read the announcement on another blog: The highly-deluded membership of the WBC, of Kansas, has announced their plans to picket the funerals of the dead children of Norway.

My jaw nearly dropped to the floor, and then I remembered “Oh yeah. This isthe WBC we're talking about here. These are the very same people who seem to really believe the tribal rules and customs of some desert nomads from thousands of years ago, still apply today (but who still oddly don't sacrifice their firstborn, like the bible commands in Exodus 34).

I knew these people to be walking turds. I knew they were weird in a bizarre kind of way. I knew the members of the Westboro Baptist Church to be a bunch of assholes. But even someone as cynical as I was not really expecting to see them actually relishing the deaths of children.

I doubt they'll even follow through. Here are a couple of things I foresee going wrong, giving these pencil-dicked morons an easy “out” from actually messing with the hearts and minds of good people in a country besides their own:

* The WBC members will be denied tourist visas, and they'll have to come back to the good old USA. You know, the country which allows freedom of speech, and religion, and all that. The nation whose soldiers have died repeatedly to defend their right to be namby-pamby jackwagons, such as they are. This just might help some of them to understand they're protesting the very country which tolerates them the most.

* They'll get over to Norway, and instead of holding up their “God hates fags®” signage, they'll have mis-translated signs which actually say “God hates baklava,” or some other shit. On seeing this, the Norwegians will simply see them as the weirdos they are (like we do) and they'll all end up getting the psychological help they've needed for so long. (I don't actually claim to know that God hates baklava. If God even exists, I'd imagine baklava would be something he'd like.)

Just in case they're committed enough to their stupidity, to really try to pull it off there are other outcomes for WBC, I could live with:

* They'll get over to Norway, and just as they start their crap, the cops will arrest them, and they'll face very real charges. (Hey. That's a plus! Norway will find a good hidey-hole for them all. We'll never have to see another tweet from them again.)

* The WBC will get over to Norway, and just as soon as one of them lifts up one sign, at the first child's funeral, the otherwise-peaceful Norwegians will descend upon them in a rabid fury, ripping them all from limb-to-limb by angry descendants of Vikings. I'm only sorry that we're not allowed to just do it, ourselves.

And finally, the worst possible outcome, and one nobody wants, except for the assholes of the WBC: The Westboro Baptist Church will successfully get to Norway, and protest as planned. The open society of Norway will insist on the people allowing these idiots (NOT representative of the USA, btw) to speak their piece – no matter how foolish- and those parents will simply suffer more needless pain, in dignified silence. If they succeed in doing this, there's no possibility or hope of ever reasoning with any of the membership of the Westboro Baptist Church.

Just in case any reader happens to be a member of the Westboro Baptist Church, I'm going to ask you nicely, and just one time only; to please not do this. Those folks in Norway have been through enough already. If you're foolish enough to really truly try to follow through with this heinous act, it's not going to turn out well for you. One way, or another, it will turn out very, very badly for all of you. I promise.

Aug 5, 2011

What, exactly is the mysterious orange goo? While it might sound like the opening of a joke like “Blue Fluffy Stuff,” (Don't ask. We'd be here for a half an hour.) it's not. It's real, it's unexplainable so far, and it's not man-made.

In a report from The Christian Science monitor, folks are just baffled by the stuff. It's only recently the mysterious orange goo began washing up on the shore and covering the bay of Kivilina, Alaska, home of the world's only known branch of Inuit Aryans. A Coast Guard representative, Petty Officer David Mosely, assured us all, the mystery substance is not man-made (as far as we know, anyway), just before a glob of it attached itself to his face, and deposited its seed within his abdomen.

It seems important to repeat the mysterious orange goo is not believed to be man-made. Otherwise, a bunch of unattractive, badly-groomed environmentalist chicks in denim skirts and tie-dyed t-shirts will start threatening to bomb gas stations like they did over the ridiculous "little oopsie" by BP in the Gulf of Mexico. Then, 12 people with terrible fashion sense, and even worse hygiene (but excellent grass) will have a “national movement” and start protesting a helpless KFC in Roswell, New Mexico. (Power to the PEOPLE! YEAH!)

What leads me to believe the mysterious orange goo is an algae or a mold is that City Administrator Janet Mitchell says the stuff is showing up in resident's rain buckets. This would indicate the likelihood of it reproducing by air-borne spores. Still, until tests confirm what it is for sure, it could even be tiny alien invaders of some sort. I hope they don't eat much. Now, we get to see if Lady Gaga shows up for next concert wearing a dress made of this shit.

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